Combined incubator and hover



Jan. 18 1927.

' L. E. GOBLE COMBINED INCUBATOR AND HOV'ER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1923 Y W Lu yin" Z .T W M I. 6 .n 8 M .55 9 3 Jan. 18,1927. 1,614,727

1.. E. GOBLE COMBINED INCUBATOR AND HOVER Filed April 9, 192's 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 A TTORNEY o U A;Lwrence Gable w J T198 660k 44 5' Patented Jan. 1a, 1927'.

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Application filed April 9,

The invention relates to incubators and hovers and its primary object is to provide a simple and highly efiicient device that is capable of being .operated or used both as a I hoverand as an incubator.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a structure by means of which heat is economically and efliciently diffused over the eggs or over the chicks, the temperature being regulated automatically at any predetermined point. v

I Another object of the invention is to pro vide a hover and incubator with novel ventilating means;

, Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter,

In the accompanying drawings Ihave illustrated an embodiment of the invention, in whichv Figure 1 is a plan view of a device'embodying the invention; Fig. 2 a central vertical cross-section of the same with the incubator pan in position; Fig. 3 a plan view of the incubator pan; Fig. 4 a central vertical cross-section of the pan; Fig. 5 a fractional view of the device in cross-section arranged as a hover; Fig. 6 a plan view of the therr' mostat; Fig. 7 a side elevational view of the thermostat and Fig. 8. a schematic drawing of the heating element and circuits.

A canopy 1 is formed preferably of metal, its top being preferably conical and formed of two walls 2 and 3 spaced apart and the space between the walls being filled with some heat insulating material, such as mineral wool 4. ,The peripheral edge of the outer wall is bent under the corresponding edge of the inner wall 3, a flange 5 at the upper edge of the side wall 6 being engaged also by the bent portion of the top thus locking the top portion and the-side wall .together. The said walls, however, may be secured together in any convenient manner.

At the peak of the top the inner wall 3 is v conically shaped so as to form an inverted cone 7 of suitable size that is positioned in the vertical axis of the canopy.

At suitable points in the top and adjacent to its peripheraledge are formed perfora-.

tionsin which fines 8 are secured, the fines extending downwardly along side of the side wall 6. The lower ends of the lines are substantially in the horizontal plane of the lower edge of the side wall 6. \V A valve or slide 9 be desired.

secured in the wall and having an electric thermostatic metal 25. the bindingpost 21 regulate the thermostat for the maximum 1923. Serial No. 680,679.

is pivoted on the upper side of the top adacent to each flue 8 for controllingthe flue.

A suitable number of plates 10 are secured to the inner face of the side wall 6, each plate being bowed outwardly at two points to form channels between the plate and the 60 Wall 6 for the reception of the free ends of a U-shaped leg 11.' The legs are adjustable in the channels so asto control the height of the canopy 01f the fioor or ground as may or chain by which the canopy may be e vated in a vertical direction and thereby retain the heat that is confined within it.

Service wires 13 and 14, such as a lamp cord, are led through a suitable insulating member 15 secured in the top, one of the wires being connected to a lamp socket 16 7 5 lamp 17 therein that is supported exteriorly of the canopy where it is visible. The other wire 14 is connected to one of the bindin posts 18 of a thermostat 19 that is secure to the wall 3. A conductor 20 is secured to the other binding post 21 of the thermostat and also to one of the terminals of the lanip socket 16. A resistance 22 of suitable form and size is connected to -both terminals of the lamp socket or is otherwise connected into ,the electrical circuit of the electric lamp and the'thermostat so that it is in multiple there, with andtherefore when the current flows through the resistance or heating element the electric lamp will be illuminated also.

The thermostat 19 (Figs. 6 and 7) --comprises a base 23 formed of suitable insulating material, upon an elevated portion 24 of 'which issuitably secured one end of the o5 havin connection with the metal. At the opposite end ofthe metal 25 is a contact 26 adapted toengage the end of an adjusting screw 27 that, projects through the top of the canopy for'ready access in order to and minimum t mperature desired for the canopy. Two p ates 28 are secured to the opposite sides of the base 23, the adjusting screwvbeing threaded into both plates and 105 making electrical connection therewith; The binding post 18 is secured to these plates In Fig. 8 the source of electrical current is indicated by the battery 29, but in practice where a distribution system is available the service wires 13 and 14 will be connected tosuch system. The heating element or resistance 22 is supported on the wall 3 by suitable insulators 30. i

A thermometer 31 may be inserted through an opening: formed in the top and suitably supported therein so that it may be read exteriorlyof the device. When the device is operating as an incubator the thermometer may be removed and laid on the eggs, the opening in the top then being closed by a slide 32 mounted on the top of the canopy. The incubating pan member consists of an annular wall 33 formed of two plates 34 having between them suit-able insulation, such as corrugated paper board 35.. Suitable cleats 36 are secured to the inner plate 34 upon which is supported in a removable manner the incubator pan proper 37 This panis fbrmed with a side wall 38 preferably metallic having a screen bottom 39 of suitable mesh. An egg turning member 40 is pivoted at its inner end in the center of the screen bottom and its outer end is turned upwardlyand carries a knob 41 by which the member 40 may be rotated over the-surface of the screen bottom and under the eggs resting thereon. Between its pivotal point and the upwardly bent portion thereof the member 40 is curved upwardly for a portion of its width in order to form a hump 40 in the horizontal portion of the member up which and down which the eggs will roll as the member is rotated under the eggs; that is, as the member is rotated the eggs will roll upwardly on the incline and then roll downwardly on the decline on the opposite side of the member 40, thus causing the eggs to again rest on the screen bottom but with a diiferent portion of. their surfaces in contact with the bottom.

It will be noted that the pan proper is supported above the lower edge of the wall 33. In order to provide suitable circulation of air beneath the eggs the wall is suitably apertured as at 42'.

The canopy rests upon the upper edge of the wall 33 and access to the pan is gained by merely elevating the canopy. Where a rope or chain is' attached to the canopymand also carries a weight at its opposite end, the rope or chain' being passed over a pulley. manipulation of the canopy is very easy and the movement of the canopy in a vertical direction resulting therefrom retains the heat within the canopy that would be lost where the latter is tilted oif the support 33 or removed'otherwise than in a vertical direction.

As before stated, where the device is used as an incubator, the pan and its supporting member are suitably set in a fixed position,

the canopy is placed on the upper edge of the supports, the joint between the two parts being made air tight by suitable packing if the same is desirable. and the electrical current is turned on. The thermostat has been adjusted for the selected maximum and minimum temperatures that proper incubation may need. Thereafter the thermostatic switch controls the flow of the current,-opening the circuit when the temperature reaches the maximum point and closing it when the temperature falls to the minimum point. The electric lamp indicates when the electric current is flowing and it has an additional advantage in that its flashing on and off tends to frighten rodents and to keep them away from the device, especially when it is in use as a hover. v

To use the device as a hover the incubator pan'and its support are omitted or removed and the canopy then rests upon its legs on the floor or ground. To avoid draughts on the chicks, or on the eggs during incubation, I attached a curtain to the canopy in suitable manner so as to reach the ground or floor. Preferably, I make use of the curtain 43, the material of which is folded over a wire hoop 43. the fold and the wire being engaged on the side wall 6 of the canopy and under thefiange formed by the folded portion of the outer wall 2. Slots 44 are formed at intervals in the outer fold of the curtain and slots 45 are similarly formed in the inner fold, the latter being staggered with respect to the former in order that there shall be no direct communication through the curtain, thus avoiding directdraughts while providing exits for the chicks to the exterior 'of the hover. The heating of the hover is carried on in the same manner as the heating of the device when used as an incubator. Ventilation of the hover is obtained by opening the slides 9 more or less to expose the flues 8! The heated air rises from the heatin element, travels up. the inclined wall of t e canopy and the central cone 7 directs it downwardly. It then travels over the chicks and escapes through the flues 8, thus establishing a circulation of heated air over the chicksthat is most uniform and effective. -Fresh air enters through the slots in the cugtain, hence the chicks are placed in the best possible situation for their development.

When the device is operated as an incubator, the heated air takes the same path above described, except that the slides 9 may be closed if conditions require it. Then the exhaust will take place'through the o ening 42 and out through the curtain,wh1le the fresh air will enter through the curtain andthrough the opening 42. In practice the SlidGSQrWlll be opened more or less to permit the ready escape of the exhaust that'passes out through the aperture 42. All draughts 1 are therefore avoided and the eggs do not chill. A curtain 42 is hun on the inner wall of the sup rt 33 by which the circulation through 3 opening A2 is controlled.

When the eggs have hatched the incubator pan and 1ts support are removed and the device continued as a hover. Hence I have provided a very compact and simple device that not only is capable of hatching eggs but protects the chicks'for the desired length of time after hatching.

What I claim is: v (s 1. In a device of the class described, a

' canopy having a cone-shaped top, an inverted cone depending from the central portion of the top, an electrical resistance mounted on the innerwall of the top and extending around the same and having a connection to a source of electrical current, and a thermostatic switch connected to the circuit of the resistance for controlling the flow of electrical current through the resistance.

2. In a device of the class described, a

canopy having a cone-shaped top, an inverted cone depending from the central portion of the top, a side wall depending from the periphery of the top, vertically disposed flues adjacent to the side wall and having communication through the top, means on the top to control the flues, a resistance element mountedon the inner wall of the top and having a connection to a source of electrical energy and a thermostatic switch having a connection with the resistance element for controlling the flow of electrical current through the element.

3. In a device of the class described, a canopy having a cone-shaped top, a heating element mounted on the inner wall of the top and substantially surrounding the same, thermostatic means to control the heating element for -regulating the temperature within the canop an annular support removably engaged y the canopy, an egg supporting member carried by the annular support and means mounted on the member for turning the eggs thereon.

4. In a device of the class described, a canopy having a cone-shaped top, an annular wall depending from the periphery of the top, a curtain surrounding the annular wall and depending therefrom and having vertical slots in its lower portion, means to support the canopy, an electrical resistance mounted on the inner wall of the top and surrounding the same, means having connection with the resistance for controlling the flow of electrical current through the 4 resistance, means carried by the top for deflecting the rising heated air downwardly and vertically disposed flues adjacent the annular wall having communication with atmosphere through the top,

In witness whereof I have hereunto sub.- scribed my name this 6th day of April, 1923.

LAWRENCE E. GOBLE. 

